State MSM Profile: Texas
Background & Methods
In 2015-2016, researchers at Emory University partnered with colleagues at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop methods to estimate the number of men who have sex with men (MSM) residing in each county in the United States. Using population and housing data from the American Community Survey and estimates from two peer-reviewed publications (Oster et al., 2015 & Purcell et al., 2012), they derived an indirect estimate of MSM population sizes that took into account both the urbanicity of the county as well as its density of households with a male householder and a male same-sex partner.
The full methodology is published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research - Public Health and Surveillance:
Overview of MSM in Texas
An estimated 371,781 men who have sex with men (MSM) resided in Texas in 2013, representing 8.3% of the 4,503,084 MSM in the United States. Of the 9,189,027 adult men of Texas, 4.0% had had sex with another man in the past 5 years, which was greater than the overall percentage of adult men in the United States who were MSM (3.9%).
Most MSM in Texas resided in central counties of large metropolitan areas (70.5%). Including both central and fringe counties, 85.2% resided in a large metropolitan area.
Percentage of MSM by urbanicity, United States and Texas, 2013
MSM in Texas Counties
Among counties or county-equivalent areas in Texas, Harris County had the largest population of MSM at 83,401, representing 22.4% of all MSM in the state. Mason County had the highest percentage of MSM among adult men in Texas at 23.4%. This was greater than the percentage for Texas as a whole, which was 4.0% of adult men.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States. 
MSM in Texas Metropolitan Statistical Areas
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington MSA had the largest metropolitan population of MSM in Texas at 133,944, or 36.0% of all MSM in the state. Of the 2,320,338 adult men in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, an estimated 5.8% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA had a population of 103,722 MSM, or 27.9% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 2,159,519 adult men in Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, an estimated 4.8% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Austin-Round Rock MSA had a population of 40,922 MSM, or 11.0% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 664,943 adult men in Austin-Round Rock, an estimated 6.2% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
San Antonio-New Braunfels Metropolitan Statistical Area
The San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA had a population of 38,084 MSM, or 10.2% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 781,725 adult men in San Antonio-New Braunfels, an estimated 4.9% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
El Paso Metropolitan Statistical Area
The El Paso MSA had a population of 4,330 MSM, or 1.2% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 275,016 adult men in El Paso, an estimated 1.6% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission Metropolitan Statistical Area
The McAllen-Edinburg-Mission MSA had a population of 4,123 MSM, or 1.1% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 247,611 adult men in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, an estimated 1.7% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
Corpus Christi Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Corpus Christi MSA had a population of 3,167 MSM, or 0.9% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 156,501 adult men in Corpus Christi, an estimated 2.0% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
Beaumont-Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Beaumont-Port Arthur MSA had a population of 2,900 MSM, or 0.8% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 154,048 adult men in Beaumont-Port Arthur, an estimated 1.9% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
Killeen-Temple Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Killeen-Temple MSA had a population of 2,414 MSM, or 0.6% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 145,642 adult men in Killeen-Temple, an estimated 1.7% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
Brownsville-Harlingen Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Brownsville-Harlingen MSA had a population of 2,088 MSM, or 0.6% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 129,594 adult men in Brownsville-Harlingen, an estimated 1.6% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Lubbock MSA had a population of 1,958 MSM, or 0.5% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 109,012 adult men in Lubbock, an estimated 1.8% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
Tyler Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Tyler MSA had a population of 1,828 MSM, or 0.5% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 74,755 adult men in Tyler, an estimated 2.4% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
College Station-Bryan Metropolitan Statistical Area
The College Station-Bryan MSA had a population of 1,695 MSM, or 0.5% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 91,854 adult men in College Station-Bryan, an estimated 1.8% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
Amarillo Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Amarillo MSA had a population of 1,573 MSM, or 0.4% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 93,048 adult men in Amarillo, an estimated 1.7% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
Longview Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Longview MSA had a population of 1,562 MSM, or 0.4% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 80,276 adult men in Longview, an estimated 1.9% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
Waco Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Waco MSA had a population of 1,547 MSM, or 0.4% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 91,122 adult men in Waco, an estimated 1.7% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Abilene MSA had a population of 1,389 MSM, or 0.4% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 64,303 adult men in Abilene, an estimated 2.2% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Midland MSA had a population of 1,152 MSM, or 0.3% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 51,934 adult men in Midland, an estimated 2.2% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
Odessa Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Odessa MSA had a population of 1,124 MSM, or 0.3% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 49,201 adult men in Odessa, an estimated 2.3% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
Laredo Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Laredo MSA had a population of 1,040 MSM, or 0.3% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 78,818 adult men in Laredo, an estimated 1.3% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Wichita Falls MSA had a population of 982 MSM, or 0.3% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 59,428 adult men in Wichita Falls, an estimated 1.7% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
San Angelo Metropolitan Statistical Area
The San Angelo MSA had a population of 866 MSM, or 0.2% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 42,143 adult men in San Angelo, an estimated 2.1% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Sherman-Denison MSA had a population of 690 MSM, or 0.2% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 44,191 adult men in Sherman-Denison, an estimated 1.6% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
Victoria Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Victoria MSA had a population of 585 MSM, or 0.2% of all MSM in Texas. Of the 34,007 adult men in Victoria, an estimated 1.7% were MSM.
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
Texarkana Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Texarkana MSA overlaps two states: Arkansas and Texas. The Texas portion of the MSA had 401 MSM, or 0.1% of all MSM in the state and 33.6% of the 1,194 MSM in the MSA. Of 35,392 adult men in the Texas part of Texarkana, 1.1% were MSM. This was less than the overall percentage of MSM among adult men in the MSA, which was 2.1% of adult men (1,194 out of 56,083).
Note: Range cutpoints for the map are based on the distribution of MSM among all counties in the United States.
